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Askari Lasaki, Behnam

Behnam Askari Lasaki

Dr.-Ing.

Scientific Researcher/Postdoc
Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management
Environmental Chemistry and Sensortechnology

Contact

+49 711 685 65396
Email

Bandtäle 2
70569 Stuttgart
Germany
Room: EG 0.037

Office Hours

Scheduled by email

Subject

Water and Wastewater Treatment
Water Reuse and Resource Recovery
Infrastructure and System Management

Publications

2025
1. Askari Lasaki, B. (2025). A novel integrated system for municipal wastewater treatment (Dissertation No. 254). Institut für Siedlungswasserbau, Wassergüte- und Abfallwirtschaft der Universität Stuttgart ISWA, Stuttgart. https://doi.org/10.18419/opus-15625
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @phdthesis{askarilasaki2025novel, address = {Stuttgart}, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam}, doi = {10.18419/opus-15625}, eventdate = {2024-12-19}, language = {eng}, number = 254, publisher = {Institut für Siedlungswasserbau, Wassergüte- und Abfallwirtschaft der Universität Stuttgart ISWA}, school = {Universität Stuttgart}, series = {Stuttgarter Berichte zur Siedlungswasserwirtschaft}, supervisor = {Schönberger, Harald}, supervisorgnd = {1178744280}, title = {A novel integrated system for municipal wastewater treatment}, type = {Dissertation}, year = 2025 }
2. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2025). A Novel Integrated Biorefinery for Enhancing Municipal Wastewater Treatment. Water Research X. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100373
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @article{askarilasaki2025novel, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100373}, journal = {Water Research X}, month = {06}, title = {A Novel Integrated Biorefinery for Enhancing Municipal Wastewater Treatment}, year = 2025 }
3. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2025). Optimizing trickling filter Systems: Comparative analysis of integrated municipal wastewater treatment configurations within a biorefinery framework. Water Resources and Industry, 33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2025.100292
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @article{noauthororeditor2025optimizing, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2025.100292}, journal = {Water Resources and Industry}, month = {06}, number = 100292, title = {Optimizing trickling filter Systems: Comparative analysis of integrated municipal wastewater treatment configurations within a biorefinery framework}, volume = 33, year = 2025 }
2024
1. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2024). A modified integrated physical advanced primary treatment to enhance particulate organic carbon removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Water Sience & Technology, wst2024044. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2024.044
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @article{noauthororeditor2024modified, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2024.044}, journal = {Water Sience & Technology}, title = {A modified integrated physical advanced primary treatment to enhance particulate organic carbon removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants}, volume = {wst2024044}, year = 2024 }
2. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2024). Uncovering the reasons behind high-performing primary sedimentation tanks for municipal wastewater treatment: An in-depth analysis of key factors. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12, 112460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112460
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{Lasaki_2024, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {10.1016/j.jece.2024.112460}, issn = {2213-3437}, journal = {Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering}, month = {04}, number = 2, pages = 112460, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, title = {Uncovering the reasons behind high-performing primary sedimentation tanks for municipal wastewater treatment: An in-depth analysis of key factors}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112460}, volume = 12, year = 2024 }
  Link
  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112460
3. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2024). An integrated physical-chemical system for concurrent carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Chemosphere, 352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141311
  - BibTeX
  BibTeX
  @article{behnamaskarilasakipetermaurer2024integrated, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141311}, journal = {Chemosphere}, month = {03}, title = {An integrated physical-chemical system for concurrent carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal in municipal wastewater treatment plants}, volume = 352, year = 2024 }
4. Askari Lasaki, B.; Sugio, R.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2024). Sustainable transformation: Unlocking energy positivity in municipal wastewater treatment through innovative advanced primary treatment configurations for maximum solids separation. Separation and Purification Technology, 342, 127081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.127081
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{Askari_Lasaki_2024, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Sugio, Ryosuke and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {10.1016/j.seppur.2024.127081}, issn = {1383-5866}, journal = {Separation and Purification Technology}, month = {08}, pages = 127081, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, title = {Sustainable transformation: Unlocking energy positivity in municipal wastewater treatment through innovative advanced primary treatment configurations for maximum solids separation}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.127081}, volume = 342, year = 2024 }
  Link
  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.127081
2023
1. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2023). Effect of coupling primary sedimentation tank (PST) and microscreen (MS) to remove particulate organic carbon (POC): a study to mitigate energy demand in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Sustainable Environment Research, 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-023-00186-7
  - Abstract
  - BibTeX
  Abstract
  Particulate Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal is one of the first and foremost steps in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). It is a highly essential step that supports subsequent biological steps to achieve discharge limits. However, the energy demand for subsequent biological steps is significant due to the requirement of physical processes such as aeration. As a part of the project: WWTP of the future, it was expected that by coupling primary sedimentation tank (PST) and microscreen (MS) as advanced primary treatment (APT), around 60 to 70% removal of total COD and more than 90% of total suspended solids could be achieved which can replace such energy-intensive steps. To achieve this, a pilot plant set up including two different types of rotatory drum sieves (8 and 20 μm) was coupled with a PST in the WWTP Büsnau, Stuttgart, Germany, and the efficiency of APT was undergone for deeper investigations. The results showed that applying APT processes is an innovative and robust approach for removing more solids in municipal WWTPs so that retrofitting treatment plants comes true with a marginal footprint. However, the longterm performance of the APT system demonstrated that the system’s ability to remove solids is highly limited by MS capacity and strength of produced flocs/filter-cakes inside the MS against shear forces, which makes it easier for flocs to be detained by MS. Therefore, additional auxiliary steps like flocculation are recommended to be synchronized with APT system to enhance its efficiency. Additionally, applying a middle mesh size sieve, for instance, a 15 μm, along with changing the backwashing regime, could be considered the next alternative.
  BibTeX
  @article{lasaki2023effect, abstract = {Particulate Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal is one of the first and foremost steps in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). It is a highly essential step that supports subsequent biological steps to achieve discharge limits. However, the energy demand for subsequent biological steps is significant due to the requirement of physical processes such as aeration. As a part of the project: WWTP of the future, it was expected that by coupling primary sedimentation tank (PST) and microscreen (MS) as advanced primary treatment (APT), around 60 to 70% removal of total COD and more than 90% of total suspended solids could be achieved which can replace such energy-intensive steps. To achieve this, a pilot plant set up including two different types of rotatory drum sieves (8 and 20 μm) was coupled with a PST in the WWTP Büsnau, Stuttgart, Germany, and the efficiency of APT was undergone for deeper investigations. The results showed that applying APT processes is an innovative and robust approach for removing more solids in municipal WWTPs so that retrofitting treatment plants comes true with a marginal footprint. However, the longterm performance of the APT system demonstrated that the system’s ability to remove solids is highly limited by MS capacity and strength of produced flocs/filter-cakes inside the MS against shear forces, which makes it easier for flocs to be detained by MS. Therefore, additional auxiliary steps like flocculation are recommended to be synchronized with APT system to enhance its efficiency. Additionally, applying a middle mesh size sieve, for instance, a 15 μm, along with changing the backwashing regime, could be considered the next alternative.}, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-023-00186-7}, journal = {Sustainable Environment Research}, month = {08}, number = 25, title = {Effect of coupling primary sedimentation tank (PST) and microscreen (MS) to remove particulate organic carbon (POC): a study to mitigate energy demand in municipal wastewater treatment plants}, volume = 33, year = 2023 }
2. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P. and Schönberger, H. (2023). A Fundamental Study on the Extraction of Particulate Organic Carbon from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants. Water. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101861
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{behnamaskarilasaki2023fundamental, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald}, doi = {10.3390/w15101861}, journal = {Water}, month = {05}, title = {A Fundamental Study on the Extraction of Particulate Organic Carbon from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants}, url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/10/1861}, year = 2023 }
  Link
  https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/10/1861
3. Askari Lasaki, B.; Maurer, P.; Schönberger, H. and Alvarez, E. P. (2023). Empowering municipal wastewater treatment: Enhancing particulate organic carbon removal via chemical advanced primary treatment. Environmental Technology &Amp; Innovation, 32, 103436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2023.103436
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{Lasaki_2023, author = {Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Maurer, Peter and Schönberger, Harald and Alvarez, Emilia Palomeque}, doi = {10.1016/j.eti.2023.103436}, issn = {2352-1864}, journal = {Environmental Technology & Innovation}, month = {11}, pages = 103436, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, title = {Empowering municipal wastewater treatment: Enhancing particulate organic carbon removal via chemical advanced primary treatment}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2023.103436}, volume = 32, year = 2023 }
  Link
  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2023.103436
2021
1. Eshghinezhad, H.; Shariatmadari, N. and Askari Lasaki, B. (2021). Influence of Adding Tire Chips on the Mechanical Behavior of Calcareous Sands. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-020-01615-9
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{eshghinezhad2021influence, author = {Eshghinezhad, Hasan and Shariatmadari, Nader and Askari Lasaki, Behnam}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-020-01615-9}, language = {English}, title = {Influence of Adding Tire Chips on the Mechanical Behavior of Calcareous Sands}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10706-020-01615-9}, year = 2021 }
  Link
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10706-020-01615-9
2. Rezvani Ghalhari, M.; Schönberger, H.; Askari Lasaki, B.; Asghari, K.; Ghordouei Milan, E.; Rezaei Rahimi, N.; Yousefi, S.; Vakili, B. and Mahvi, A. H. (2021). Performance evaluation and siting index of the stabilization ponds based on environmental parameters: a case study in Iran. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00723-9
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{rezvanighalhari2021performance, author = {Rezvani Ghalhari, Mohammad and Schönberger, Harald and Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Asghari, Keyvan and Ghordouei Milan, Esfandiar and Rezaei Rahimi, Nayereh and Yousefi, Somayeh and Vakili, Behnam and Mahvi, Amir Hossein}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00723-9}, language = {English}, title = {Performance evaluation and siting index of the stabilization ponds based on environmental parameters: a case study in Iran}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40201-021-00723-9}, year = 2021 }
  Link
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40201-021-00723-9
2018
1. Shariatmadari, N.; Askari Lasaki, B.; Eshghinezhad, H. and Alidoust, P. (2018). Effects of Landfill Leachate on Mechanical Behaviour of Adjacent Soil: a Case Study of Saravan Landfill, Rasht, Iran. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-018-0311-2
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{shariatmadari2018effects, author = {Shariatmadari, Nader and Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Eshghinezhad, Hasan and Alidoust, Pourya}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-018-0311-2}, language = {English}, title = {Effects of Landfill Leachate on Mechanical Behaviour of Adjacent Soil: a Case Study of Saravan Landfill, Rasht, Iran}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40999-018-0311-2}, year = 2018 }
  Link
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40999-018-0311-2
2016
1. Arabani‬, M. and Askari Lasaki, B. (2016). Behavior of a Simulated Collapsible Soil Modified with XPS-Cement Mixtures. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0092-9
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{arabani2016behavior, author = {Arabani‬, M. and Askari Lasaki, Behnam}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0092-9}, language = {English}, title = {Behavior of a Simulated Collapsible Soil Modified with XPS-Cement Mixtures}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10706-016-0092-9}, year = 2016 }
  Link
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10706-016-0092-9
2. Shariatmadari, N.; Askari Lasaki, B.; Eshghi Nezhad, H. and Askari, B. (2016). Investigating the Stress–Strain and Failure Behavior of Soils Contaminated with Urban Solid Waste Leachate: A Case Study from the Landfill Area of Saravan, Rasht. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-016-0051-0
  - BibTeX
  - Link
  BibTeX
  @article{shariatmadari2016investigating, author = {Shariatmadari, Nader and Askari Lasaki, Behnam and Eshghi Nezhad, Hasan and Askari, Behzad}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-016-0051-0}, language = {English}, title = {Investigating the Stress–Strain and Failure Behavior of Soils Contaminated with Urban Solid Waste Leachate: A Case Study from the Landfill Area of Saravan, Rasht}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40999-016-0051-0}, year = 2016 }
  Link
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40999-016-0051-0

Vita

Employment History

Postdoc and Project leader, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
November 2024 — Present
Scientific Researcher, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
October 2021 — October 2024
Project Engineer and Manager, KIRN INGENIEURE, Pforzheim, Germany
June 2019 — December 2021
Intern and Project Engineer, Kocks Consult GmbH, Koblenz, Germany
May 2018 — May 2019
Academic Assistant, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
October 2016 — May 2017
Project Manager, Self-employed, Rasht, Guilan, Iran
September 2014 — August 2016
Academic Researcher and Tutor, University of UMA, Ardabīl, Iran
September 2012 — August 2014

Education History

Sabbatical Research Stay, Eawag–ETH Zürich
March 2025 – June 2025
Research Topic: Evaluation of Microsieving Applications in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
October 2021 — December 2024
Thesis subject: A novel integrated system for municipal wastewater treatment.
M.Sc. Water Resources Engineering and Management, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
September 2016 — June 2019
Thesis subject: Applicability and design of pond systems for wastewater treatment.
M.Sc. Geotechnical Engineering, University of UMA, Ardabil, Iran
September 2012 — September 2014
Thesis subject: Evaluation of the stress-strain and Failure behavior of intact soils.
B.Sc. Civil Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Guilan, Iran
September 2008 — August 2012
Areas of focus: Geotechnical and water resources engineering.

My research focuses on developing sustainable and cost-effective solutions for water, wastewater, and solid-waste management. I combine process engineering, resource recovery, and infrastructure optimization to support circular-economy approaches and to improve water quality in both centralized and decentralized systems. My core areas of interest are as follows:

Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Development of cost-effective technologies for water and wastewater treatment (e.g., microscreening, ion exchange, and gravity-driven membrane filtration)
- Advanced and enhanced primary treatment technologies (e.g., combinations of coagulation–flocculation with sedimentation, micro-screening, or other high-rate clarification processes)
- Improving the performance of waste stabilization ponds (lagoons) and constructed wetlands through optimized design and operation
- Reviving classical biological wastewater treatment systems (e.g., trickling filters, rotating biological contactors) by optimizing operational and design conditions
- Design and optimization of decentralized drinking water treatment systems, with a focus on point-of-use technologies such as multistage filtration systems employing activated carbon and novel engineered resin media

Water Reuse and Resource Recovery

- Water reuse for industrial and agricultural applications (e.g., treated wastewater for process water, irrigation of non-food crops, and aquifer recharge)
- Resource recovery from wastewater (e.g., nutrients, energy, water)
- Application of circular economy principles to waste streams in the solid-waste and water sectors

Infrastructure and System Management:

Planning and design of sewer networks (network development), inspection via CCTV, and rehabilitation using methods such as UV-cured inliners, partial liners, resin and grout injection, and stainless-steel short liners

Projects

Removing Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) from drinking water
Resource-efficient and circular renovation –Focus on facades (RES_UMB_FASSADEN)
Sustainable Cities, Circular Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa 2024
Wastewater treatment plant of the future (KoalAplan project)
Cooperation with the University of Tehran and the Technical University of Esfahan on the applicability, upgrading, and improvement of pond systems for wastewater treatment in Iran, including wastewater recycling
Investigations on the biodegradability/bio-eliminability of four formulations containing polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) as the principal component

Lectures

Solid Waste Management,” offered as part of the Sanitary Engineering course for WAREM, WASTE, and MIP students.
Sanitary Engineering Practical Class
Planning and Design of Water Supply Facilities

Honours and awards

Academic Achievements:

From 1995 to 2007, ranked as the top student in all grade levels.
Qualified for admission to the School for Gifted Students, 2001.
Selected as the author of the best article at the Iranian First Geotechnical Conference, 2013.
Top Master’s student at UMA University, 2014.
Qualified for admission to the “Brilliant Talented Students” program, which granted admission to several PhD programs in Geotechnics at various universities in Iran, 2015.
Recipient of the “Bürckert” scholarship, awarded by the International Center of the University of Stuttgart, 2019.
Defense of the second Master’s thesis with grade “1” (highest grade in the German education system), 2019.
Winner of the BMBF grant for developing an environmental protection concept in Iran, 2019.
Winner of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): EFR Green Hydrogen Scholarship for Doctoral Candidates from Germany, 2024.
Doctoral dissertation defense with distinction (summa cum laude) – the highest honor for dissertations in German-speaking countries.
Nominated for the Willy-Hager Prize 2024 for the best dissertation in the field.

Non-academic Achievements:

Championship (Gold Medal) with the Shariati High School futsal team in the District 2 tournament of Rasht, Guilan, Iran, 2006.
Elected (by vote) as one of the three student representatives for all schools in District 2 of Rasht, Guilan, Iran, 2006.
Winner of the Silver Medal with the University of Guilan football team in the Northern District Universities Tournament of Iran, 2009.
Fourth place with the futsal team representing the Rasht Engineering Association in the inter-association competition of Guilan Province, Iran, 2014.

Behnam Askari Lasaki

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2025

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2024

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2023

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2021

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2018

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2016

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